The First Sunday in Lent
KNOWN AS THE SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY
SMALL VESPERS ON SATURDAY EVENING
To Lord, I have cried, four stichera are sung:
TONE ONE
by Nicolas
to the special melody O purest Virgin, thou Joy of the heavenly hierarchies…
Now the light of the true faith shines upon us all, dispersing the dark cloud of the error of ungodliness, and illumining the hearts of true believers. Come, all the Orthodox, with reverence let us fall down and venerate the holy ikons of Christ.
As a bride adorned, the Church of Christ is now made beautiful with the holy ikons, and she calls us all together in the Spirit. Come, let us keep the feast with unity of mind and faith, joyfully magnifying the Lord.
Let the whole world make glad: for see, in His ineffable providence the Lord has cast down from on high the power of ungodliness, and we who were humbled are today exalted. We are guided to the faith of Orthodoxy by the pious Empress.
As Basil says, the honour shown to the ikon is directed to the prototype it represents. Therefore we ascribe to the ikons of the Saviour Christ and all the saints an honour that is relative; and we hold fast to them, that we may nevermore be led astray into ungodliness.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Theotokion
SAME TONE
He who is invisible in His eternal and divine nature, took flesh from thy pure body, O Virgin, in His great compassion, and became visible as a mortal man. Therefore we depict His flesh in ikons, which we venerate and honour with reverence and true faith.
Aposticha:
TONE TWO
to the special melody O house of Ephratah…
Fleeing, O ye faithful, from the corrupting mischief of the heretics, let us be illumined in our hearts by the light of Orthodoxy, as we give glory to God.
℣. Ascribe unto the Lord, ye sons of God, ascribe unto the Lord glory and honour (Psalm 28:1).
The turbid delusion of Arius, of Macedonius, Peter, Severus and Pyrrhus, has been destroyed, and the light of the threefold Sun shines out.
℣. Worship the Lord in His holy temple (Psalm 28:1).
The heretics with their false teaching no longer boast with pride; for, at the decision of Theodora, God has given a rod of strength to the Orthodox.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Theotokion
SAME TONE
By giving birth to God the Word, O Theotokos, thou hast exalted the horn of the humble: therefore we all honour thee in faith and magnify thee.
Apolytikion (troparion) of the Sunday of Orthodoxy:
TONE TWO
We venerate Thy holy ikon, loving Lord, asking Thee to pardon our transgressions, Christ our God. For Thou of Thine own will wast pleased in the flesh to ascend upon the Cross, so to deliver from the bondage of the enemy those whom Thou hast fashioned. Therefore in thanksgiving we cry aloud to Thee: Thou hast filled all things with joy, our Saviour, when Thou hast come to save the world.
And the Dismissal.
GREAT VESPERS ON SATURDAY EVENING
After the Psalm of Introduction (Psalm 103) and the Great Litany, we read Blessed is the man (the first kathisma of the Psalter).
To Lord, I have cried, ten stichera are sung: six of the Resurrection in the Tone of the week, from the Octoechos, and the following four from the Triodion:
TONE SIX
to the special melody, Having set all your hope on the things of heaven…
The prophets, inspired by Thy Spirit, O Lord, foretold that Thou, whom nothing can contain or grasp, and who hast shone forth in eternity before the morning star from the immaterial and bodiless womb of the Father, wast to become a child, taking flesh from the Virgin, being joined to men and seen by those on earth. At the prayers of these Thy prophets, in Thy compassion count us worthy of Thy light, for we sing the praises of Thine ineffable and holy Resurrection.
The divinely-inspired prophets preached Thee in word and honoured Thee in works, and they received as their reward life without end. For they steadfastly refused, O Master, to worship the creation instead of Thee, the Creator; they renounced the whole world for the Gospel’s sake, and in their suffering they were conformed to Thy Passion which they had foretold. At their intercessions, count us worthy to pass through the period of the Fast without offence, for Thou alone art rich in mercy.
Thou who art uncircumscribed, O Master, in Thy divine nature, wast pleased in the last times to take flesh and be circumscribed; and in assuming flesh, Thou hast also taken on Thyself all its distinctive properties. Therefore we depict the likeness of Thine outward form, venerating it with an honour that is relative. So we are exalted to the love of Thee, and following the holy traditions handed down by the apostles, from Thine ikon we receive the grace of healing.
As a precious adornment the Church of Christ has received the venerable and holy ikons of the Saviour Christ, of God’s Mother and of all the saints. Celebrating now their triumphant restoration, she is made bright with grace and splendour, and drives away all heretics. With great rejoicing she gives glory unto God who loves mankind, and who for her sake has endured His voluntary Passion.
Glory be to the Father…
TONE TWO
The grace of truth has shone forth upon us; the mysteries darkly prefigured in the times of old have now been openly fulfilled. For behold, the Church is clothed in a beauty that surpasses all things earthly, through the ikon of the incarnate Christ that was foreshadowed by the ark of testimony. This is the safeguard of the Orthodox faith; for if we hold fast to the ikon of the Saviour whom we worship, we shall not go astray. Let all who do not share this faith be covered with shame; but we shall glory in the ikon of the Word made flesh, which we venerate but worship not as an idol. So let us kiss it, and with all the faithful cry aloud: O God, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.
Both now…
Then the Theotokion (Dogmatikon) in the Tone of the week from the Octoechos, followed by the Entrance, O joyful Light, and the Prokimenon of the day, The Lord is King.
At the Lity we sing the stichera of the patron saint of the church or monastery, and then:
Glory be to the Father…
TONE TWO
Rejoice, O honoured prophets, who proclaimed aright the law of the Lord: ye are firm and unshaken pillars of the faith. Ye served as mediators of the New Covenant of Christ: and now that ye have gone to dwell in heaven, pray to Him for peace in the world and for the salvation of our souls.
Both now…
Theotokion
All my hope I set in thee, O Mother of God: keep me beneath thy protection.
We sing the Aposticha in the Tone of the week from the Octoechos, and then:
Glory be to the Father…
TONE TWO
Advancing from ungodliness to the true faith, and illumined with the light of knowledge, let us clap our hands and sing aloud, offering praise and thanksgiving to God; and with due honour let us venerate the holy ikons of Christ, of the all-pure Virgin and the saints, whether depicted on walls, on wooden panels or on holy vessels, rejecting the impious teaching of the heretics. For, as Basil says, the honour shown to the ikon passes to the prototype it represents. At the prayers of Thine undefiled Mother and of all the saints, we beseech Thee, Christ our God, to bestow upon us Thy great mercy.
Both now…
Theotokion
O new wonder, greater than all the wonders of old! For who has ever known a mother to give birth without a man, and to carry in her arms Him who carries all creation? The Child conceived by thee, pure Virgin, is the Counsel and Will of God. Since thou hast held Him as a babe in thine arms and hast a mother’s boldness before Him, cease not to intercede for those who honour thee, that mercy and salvation may be granted to our souls.
The apolytikion Hail, Theotokos Virgin, Mary full of grace (twice), and the the apolytikion (troparion) of the Sunday of Orthodoxy (once):
TONE TWO
We venerate Thy holy ikon, loving Lord, asking Thee to pardon our transgressions, Christ our God. For Thou of Thine own will wast pleased in the flesh to ascend upon the Cross, so to deliver from the bondage of the enemy those whom Thou hast fashioned. Therefore in thanksgiving we cry aloud to Thee: Thou hast filled all things with joy, our Saviour, when Thou hast come to save the world.
And the rest of Vespers.
MATTINS
After the Six Psalms and the great Litany we sing The Lord is God, followed by the troparion (apolytikion) of the Resurrection in the Tone of the week (twice); Glory be to the Father…; the troparion (apolytikion) of the Sunday of Orthodoxy, We venerate Thy holy ikon…; Both now…; and the Theotokion:
TONE TWO
Most glorious and beyond our understanding are all thy mysteries, O Theotokos: for with the seal of thy virginity unbroken, thou hast become in full reality a mother, giving birth to the true God. Pray to Him for the salvation of our souls.
Then the two readings from the Psalter, with the sessional hymns of the Resurrection in the Tone of the week; the Polyeleos (or Psalm 118), the Evlogitaria, the Ypakoë, the Hymn of Degrees and the Prokimenon in the Tone of the week, and the appointed Morning Gospel. We then sing We have seen the Resurrection of Christ, followed by Psalm 50, and then, as on previous Sundays:
Glory be to the Father…
TONE EIGHT
Open unto me, O Giver of Life, the gates of repentance: for early in the morning my spirit seeks Thy holy temple, bearing a temple of the body all defiled. But in Thy compassion cleanse it by Thy loving-kindness and Thy mercy.
Both now…
SAME TONE
Guide me in the paths of salvation, O Theotokos: for I have befouled my soul with shameful sins and have wasted all my life in slothfulness. By thine intercessions deliver me from all uncleanness.
Have mercy upon me, O God, in Thy great mercy: and according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
TONE SIX
As I ponder in my wretchedness the many evil things that I have done, I tremble for the fearful day of judgement. But trusting in Thy merciful compassion, like David do I cry to Thee: Have mercy upon me, O God, in Thy great mercy.
The Canon
We use four troparia (including the irmos) from the Canon of the Resurrection, two troparia from the Canon of the Cross and the Resurrection, and two troparia from the Canon to the Theotokos, all in the Tone of the week from the Octoechos; and then the Canon of the Triodion with six troparia, by Theophanes.
TONE FOUR
Canticle One
Irmos: Israel in ancient times walked dry-shod…
Leaping up with joy, let us and all the faithful cry aloud today: How marvellous are Thy works, O Christ! How great is Thy might! For Thou hast made us of one mind and brought about our agreement.
O people of God, come and let us celebrate a day of joy; the heaven now makes glad, and earth with all the hosts of angels and the companies of mortal men, each in their different orders, keeps the feast.
Seeing this great blessing that we have received, how the divided members of Christ have been brought to unity, let us clap our hands for joy and praise God who has bestowed peace upon us.
Today a festival of victory has been given to the Church, through the divinely-inspired intention and will of our rulers Michael and Theodora, who in piety uphold the true Faith.
Theotokion
The swords of impious heresies have failed: for in deep reverence, pure and holy Virgin, we gaze now upon thy temple, adorned with ikons, and we rejoice with holy joy.
Katavasia: Israel in ancient times walked dry-shod across the Red Sea; and Moses, with his hands lifted in the form of the Cross, put the power of Amalek to flight in the desert.
Canticle Three
Irmos: Thy Church makes glad in Thee…
No longer now are the impious heretics exalted in their pride; for the power of God has firmly established Orthodoxy.
Today, at the restoration of the faith, let the prophets sprinkle upon us life-giving dew from heaven.
Let the mystical trumpets of Christ’s apostles sound in God-given harmony, proclaiming the re-establishment of the precious ikons.
Let us sing in praise of Christ, who has appointed a devout and pious Empress to rule over us, together with her son crowned by God.
Theotokion
We pray thee, most pure Lady, with the light of grace shine now upon the faithful, who have gathered in thy holy house.
Katavasia: Thy Church makes glad in Thee, O Christ, and cries aloud: Thou art my strength, O Lord, my refuge and my stronghold.
Sessional Hymn
TONE ONE
Depicting Thy divine form in ikons, O Christ, we openly proclaim Thy Nativity, Thine ineffable miracles and Thy voluntary Crucifixion. So the devils are driven out in fear and the heretics, their fellow-workers, lament in shame and sorrow.
Glory be to the Father…
The heavenly Zion, our mother, is made beautiful with the holy ikons of the prophets, the apostles and the martyrs, and of all the saints: and she is brightly adorned with the glory of the spiritual Bridegroom and the Bride.
Both now…
Theotokion
With love, O honoured Virgin, we venerate thy holy ikon; with one accord we proclaim thee as true Mother of God, and in faith we bow before thee. Since thou hast power to do all things, be our guardian and our strong protection, and drive far from us every tribulation.
Canticle Four
Irmos: Seeing Thee lifted upon the Cross…
Through the divine descent of the Comforter sanctify Thy temple, and by His coming banish the error of heresy, O most merciful Word of God.
Deliver Thy people from the violence of impiety, and kindle them with zeal for Orthodoxy, as they cry aloud to Thee in faith: Glory to Thy power, O Lord.
Seeing the churches of God bright with the sacred ikons of Christ and the Theotokos, we rejoice with holy joy.
Adorned with her royal crown, the Empress, out of love for the true Kingdom of Christ, has restored in all the churches His most pure ikon and the pictures of the saints.
Theotokion
O full of grace, who hast borne God the incarnate Word, thou wast sanctified as the holy temple of God: therefore we consecrate thy shrine, newly adorned with glory.
Katavasia: Seeing Thee lifted upon the Cross, O Sun of Righteousness, the Church stood still and cried aloud: Glory to Thy power, O Lord.
Canticle Five
Irmos: O Lord, my light…
Firmly establish Thy Church, O Lord, that unto the ages of ages she may stand unshaken by the tempest of heresy.
The rejoicing granted to the faithful from on high and the help they have received from God has shone with glory over all the earth.
O Thou who alone art good and the source of goodness, raise up the horn of the Orthodox rulers who honour Thine ikon.
The light of the true Faith that knows no evening has shone forth upon us, at the divinely-inspired commandment of our faithful monarchs.
Theotokion
Renew for us the ancient splendours, O most pure Mother of God, and sanctify this thy dwelling with thy grace.
Katavasia: O Lord my light. Thou hast come into the world as a light of holiness, turning back from dark ignorance those who in faith sing Thy praises.
Canticle Six
Irmos: ‘I will sacrifice to Thee, O Lord…’.
Once more the Master’s countenance is depicted, honoured with faith and venerated; once more the Church regains her boldness of approach to God, reverently glorifying the Saviour.
The Church of Christ is delivered from the dark despondency of heresy: she puts on a robe of gladness, and is clothed in the light of divine grace.
The Orthodox people has regained the light and glory which it had of old, through the decision of the Empress Theodora and her pious son the Emperor Michael.
Theotokion
He who of old commanded Moses to set up the ark of the testimony, came to dwell in thee, O Virgin, as in a spiritual ark: He alone is glorified, and He makes thy temple glorious with miracles.
Katavasia: ‘I will sacrifice to Thee, O Lord, with the voice of thanksgiving’, the Church cries out to Thee: for she has been cleansed from the defilement of the demons by the Blood which flowed in mercy from Thy side.
Kontakion
TONE EIGHT
The uncircumscribed Word of the Father became circumscribed, taking flesh from thee, O Theotokos, and He has restored the sullied image to its ancient glory, filling it with the divine beauty. This our salvation we confess in deed and word, and we depict it in the holy ikons.
Ikos
Enlightened by this mystery of God’s providence, the divinely-inspired prophets foretold it of old; and this they did for our sakes, who see the fulfilment of the ages. Receiving through this mystery divine knowledge, we know one Lord and God, glorified in three Persons, and Him alone we worship; we have one faith, one baptism, and we are clothed in Christ. This our salvation we confess in deed and word, and we depict it in the holy ikons.
Canticle Seven
Irmos: The children of Abraham in the Persian furnace…
Let the hosts of angels share in the joy of the Church, and filled with the love of God let them cry aloud: ‘Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the temple of Thy glory.’
The triumphant assembly and Church of the firstborn rejoices as it now beholds the people of God cry aloud with one accord: ‘Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the temple of Thy glory.’
Delivered from the dark heresies of the past through the decision of the honoured Empress Theodora, we cry aloud: ‘Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the temple of Thy glory.’
Theotokion
O most pure Virgin, thou art exalted above the choirs on high, for alone among women thou hast become Mother of the Creator of all. And so in joy we shout aloud: ‘Blessed art thou among women, O Lady undefiled.’
Katavasia: The children of Abraham in the Persian furnace, burning with a love for the true Faith that was stronger than the flames, cried out from the midst of the fire: ‘Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the temple of Thy glory.’
Canticle Eight
Irmos: Daniel in the lions’ den…
Keeping the laws of the Church that we have received from the Fathers, we paint ikons of Christ and His saints, and with our lips and heart and will we venerate them as we cry aloud; O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.
The honour and veneration that we show to the ikon we ascribe to the prototype it represents, following the teaching of the saints inspired by God, and with faith we cry aloud to Christ: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.
Her mind enlightened by the illumination of the Holy Spirit and filled with the wisdom of God, the honoured Empress has loved the beauty and splendour of Christ’s Church, and with all the faithful she blesses Jesus, the God-Man.
Theotokion
Illumined by rays of spiritual light, Thy holy house overshadows all of us with the cloud of the Spirit, and sanctifies the faithful who sing with one accord: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.
Katavasia: Daniel in the lions’ den stretched out his hands in prayer and stopped their mouths; and girded with holiness, the Children, lovers of the true faith, quenched the power of the fire, as they cried aloud: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.
Canticle Nine
Irmos: Christ the corner-stone not cut by hand of man…
Seeing the Holy Church once more adorned with ikons, let us make haste and with reverence cry aloud to Christ: We magnify Thee, O Thrice-Holy.
As a mark of glory and honour, the Church possesses Thy Cross and the holy ikons of the saints, O Master, and with joy and gladness she magnifies Thee.
Shine upon our rulers with Thy divine glory, O compassionate Master, and fence them about with the protection of the angelic hosts, subjecting the proud heathen beneath their feet.
Theotokion
The condemnation of our first mother Eve has been abolished, since thou, pure Theotokos, in ways past all interpretation, hast given birth to the Master of all; and now we kiss His likeness in the ikons.
Katavasia: Christ the corner-stone not cut by hand of man was taken from the unhewn mountain, from thee, O Virgin; and He has joined in one two different natures. Therefore with great rejoicing, O Theotokos, thee do we magnify.
The appointed exapostilarion of the Resurrection, and then:
Glory be to the Father…
Leap for joy and clap your hands with gladness, sing and cry aloud: How strange and wonderful are Thy works, O Christ! And who can tell of all Thy mighty acts, O Saviour, who hast united us in harmony and concord within one Church!
Both now…
Theotokion
The swords of hostile heresy now have failed, and every memory of it, with all its tumult, has vanished away. For we see thy temple, most pure Virgin, in all its splendour, adorned by the grace of the precious ikons, and we all are filled with joy.
Lauds. Five stichera of the Resurrection in the Tone of the week from the Octoechos, and then the following four stichera from the Triodion:
TONE FOUR
to the special melody, Thou hast given an ensign…
O Lord who lovest mankind, the Church rejoices now in Thee, her Bridegroom and her Founder, for by Thy divine will Thou hast delivered her from the error of idolatry, and by Thy precious Blood Thou hast betrothed her to Thyself. With joy she accepts the holy restoration of the ikons, and with faith she sings in praise of Thee and gives Thee glory.
℣. I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will speak of all Thy marvellous works (Psalm 9:2).
Restoring to the churches the representations of Thy flesh, O Lord, we ascribe to them an honour that is relative, and so express the great mystery of Thy dispensation. For Thou hast not appeared to us, O loving Lord, merely in outward semblance, as say the followers of Mani, who are enemies of God, but in the full and true reality of the flesh; and so the ikons that depict Thy flesh lead us to the desire and love of Thee.
℣. I will be glad and rejoice in Thee, I will sing to Thy Name, O Most High (Psalm 9:3).
A feast of joy and gladness is revealed to us today. For the teachings of the true Faith shine forth in all their glory, and the Church of Christ is bright with splendour, adorned with the holy ikons which now have been restored; and God has granted to the faithful unity of mind.
℣. Arise, O Lord my God, lift up Thine hand: forget not Thy poor for ever (Psalm 9:33).
TONE SIX
Moses, in the season of abstinence, received the Law and proclaimed it to the people. Elijah by fasting closed the heavens; and the three children of Abraham through fasting overcame the lawless tyrant. Count us also worthy, O Christ, through fasting to attain the Feast of Thy Resurrection, as we cry aloud: Holy God, Holy and Strong, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us.
Glory be to the Father…
Repeat Moses, in the season of abstinence…
Both now…
Most blessed art thou, O Virgin Theotokos…
Great Doxology, the two Litanies, and the Dismissal.
DIVINE LITURGY
The Typika (Psalms 102 and 145) and the Beatitudes. With the Beatitudes we sing four troparia in the Tone of the week from the Octoechos, and four troparia from Canticle Six of the Canon in the Triodion.
Prokimenon:
TONE FOUR
Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our Fathers: and praised and glorified is Thy Name unto the ages (Song of the Three Children, verse 3).
℣. For Thou art righteous in all the things that Thou hast done to us (Song of the Three Children, verse 4).
Epistle: Hebrews 11:24–6, 32–40.
Alleluia:
TONE EIGHT
℣ 1. Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among them that call upon His Name (Psalm 98:6).
℣ 2. They called upon the Lord, and He heard them (Psalm 98:6).
Gospel: John 1:43–51.
Communion verse: Praise ye the Lord from the heavens…
After the Dismissal at the end of the Liturgy (alternatively, after the Dismissal at the end of Mattins), it is the custom in cathedrals, monasteries and many parish churches to go in procession with the holy ikons round the outside of the church, and then to read the special Office celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy.
VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING
There is no reading from the Psalter.
To Lord, I have cried, ten stichera are sung: four penitential stichera in the Tone of the week, and then three stichera from the Triodion:
TONE FOUR
to the special melody Thou hast given an ensign…
by Joseph
Grant me contrition, estrangement from evil, and perfect amendment, for I am sunk in the depths of bodily passion and separated far from Thee, O God, the King of all; and I have no other hope but Thee. In the abundance of Thy goodness save me, the prodigal, O Jesus all-powerful, the Saviour of our souls.
When he had been cleansed by fasting, great Moses saw the God for whom he longed. Eagerly follow his example, O my humble soul; make haste to cleanse thyself from evil in the day of abstinence, and so thou shalt behold the Lord who grants thee forgiveness, for He is all-powerful and loves mankind.
TONE SIX
by Theodore
Let us now set out with joy upon the second week of the Fast; and like Elijah the Tishbite let us fashion for ourselves from day to day, O brethren, a fiery chariot from the four great virtues; let us exalt our minds through freedom from the passions; let us arm our flesh with purity and our hands with acts of compassion; let us make our feet beautiful with the preaching of the Gospel; and let us put the enemy to flight and gain the victory.
Then three stichera to the saint of the day from the Menaion; Glory be to the Father… Both now…; and the Theotokion from the Menaion. Entrance, O joyful Light…
Great Prokimenon (Psalm 60):
TONE EIGHT
O Lord, Thou hast given an inheritance to them that fear Thy Name.
℣ 1. From the ends of the earth have I cried unto Thee.
℣ 2. I will take refuge under the shadow of Thy wings.
℣ 3. So will I sing praises unto Thy Name for ever.
And then once more, O Lord, Thou hast given an inheritance…
Aposticha:
TONE EIGHT
Come, let us cleanse ourselves by almsgiving and acts of mercy to the poor, not sounding a trumpet or making a show of our charity. Let not our left hand know what our right hand is doing; let not vainglory scatter the fruit of our almsgiving; but in secret let us call on Him that knows all secrets: Father, forgive us our trespasses, for Thou lovest mankind (twice).
To the Martyrs
O martyrs of the Lord, ye hallow every place and heal every ill; and now we entreat you to pray that our souls may be delivered from the snares of the enemy.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Theotokion
The heavenly powers praise thee, O Virgin Mother full of grace, and we also glorify thy childbearing that none can understand. O Theotokos, pray for the salvation of our souls.
And the rest of Vespers as on the preceding Sunday.
COMPLINE
Canon of the Holy Prophets
TONE FIVE
by Theophanes
Canticle One
Irmos: Bringing battles to nought with His upraised arm, Christ hath overthrown horse and rider in the Red Sea, and hath saved Israel, who chanteth a hymn of victory.
In that ye are the prophets of divine grace, entreat Christ, that He grant the grace of the divine Spirit and remission of offenses unto me who hymn your honored memory.
O all ye divinely wise, let us hymn the prophets, the melodious instruments of divinely inspired discourse, the mirrors which receive the divine manifestation of the radiance of God.
The face of Moses the God-seer, who received the words of the law from God on Mount Sinai, was illumined by the vision of God and wondrously marked by grace.
With downpours of divine knowledge and the thunder of grace the clouds of God, proclaiming with divine wisdom the sole creative Power, smote the sea of the polytheism of the nations.
Having learned of thy mysteries from on high, O all-pure Theotokos, the prophets, the divinely sounding clarions, proclaim thee the Mother of God who gave birth in the fulness of time.
Canticle Three
Irmos: O Christ Who by Thy command fixed the earth upon naught and suspended its weight unsupported: establish Thou Thy Church upon the immovable rock of Thy commandments, O Thou Who alone art good and lovest mankind.
All the prophets, the harps of the Spirit struck by Thy plectrum, O Christ, divinely producing music fit for Thine acknowledgment, chant for all who love God, enriching them with effulgence from on high.
Wielding Thy statutes as swords, all the prophets cut down greatly tumultuous falsehood, piously arrayed in Thy divine power and Thine unapproachable might.
Manifestly prefiguring the difficult mystery of Thy dispensation, the prophets gave the whole earth to drink of the divine and noetic cup of understanding, proclaiming none other than Thee.
Thy mystery, commanded of old and conceived before time began, hath been revealed to all who know God as fulfilled in thy womb in latter times, O all-immaculate Virgin.
Canticle Four
Irmos: Perceiving Thy divine condescension prophetically, O Christ, Habbakuk cried out to Thee with trembling: Thou art come for the salvation of Thy people, to save Thine anointed ones!
O all-wise prophets who utter proclamation through the Spirit, ye have been shown to be true beacons of the Truth, illumining all the nations with the splendor of your life.
Behold now, seeing the fulfillment of that which was spoken by you, O divine prophets, we glorify Him Who was proclaimed by you and hath fulfilled your prophecies in deed.
Enlightened by wisdom, O divine ones, with the grace of God ye predicted the coming of the nations, the fall of Israel and the desolation of all good things.
Beholding God incarnate while standing on divine watch, ye were vouchsafed to see Him coming forth from the mountain of the Virgin, O ye who are most rich.
Canticle Five
Irmos: O Thou Who art clothed in light as with a garment: rise at dawn unto Thee, and to Thee do I cry: enlighten Thou my gloom-enshrouded soul, O Christ, in that Thou alone art compassionate!
Thy spirit rose at dawn unto Him Who sitteth upon the most exalted throne, O all-wise Isaiah, and thou didst chant with the choirs on high.
Moved by the Spirit, O saints, your tongues right continually proclaiming His words unto the whole world, ye illumined it with the radiance of divine knowledge.
In that ye were the habitations of God Who raiseth up the nature of man, ye had Him within you. Standing before Him now, make ye supplication in our behalf.
In that He alone is full of lovingkindness, God Who was born of the Virgin gave utterance to His all-wise mind and the ancient counsel of His truth, unto you, O prophets.
Canticle Six
Irmos: O Christ Master, still Thou the sea of the passions which rageth with a soul-destroying tempest, and lead me up from corruption, in that Thou art compassionate.
Having acquired a divine life and the true discourse of piety, O saints, ye became the most true heralds of the divine incarnation.
Possessed of divine power, ye restrained the wild assault of kings and the mouths of wild beasts, and were rescued alive from the belly of the sea-monster.
Shining forth from your mothers’ wombs upon the whole world, O all ye holy pro-phets who are all-rich, ye became teachers and instillers of virtue.
Possessing God-loving thoughts, O pure Mistress, the prophets proclaimed thy birthgiving in multifarious forms and images.
Sessional Hymn
TONE TWO
Arriving at the fulfillment of prophecy, the choir of the prophets, with Moses and Aaron, rejoiceth today with gladness: for the Cross shineth forth, whereby Thou hast saved us, O Christ God. By their supplications have mercy upon us.
Canticle Seven
Irmos: The supremely exalted Lord of our fathers quenched the flame and bedewed the children, who sang together: Blessed art Thou, O God!
In the pit the immeasurable power of the Lord’s command restrained the lions for the prophet who cried out: Blessed art Thou, O God!
Equal in number to the worshipful Trinity, Thy most wise children quenched the flame, chanting together: Blessed art Thou, O God!
Shining like lamps, making the earth heavenly with flowers of the virtues, the prophets, the offspring of Abraham, chant: Blessed art Thou, O God!
Thou didst transcend the laws of nature, O Mistress, when thou gavest birth to the Lord Who hath dominion over the law, to Whom we all chant: Blessed art Thou, O God!
Canticle Eight
Irmos: The children, forming a universal chorus in the furnace, chanted to Thee, the Creator of all: Hymn the Lord, all ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Having formed a choir within the delight of paradise, O God-pleasing prophets, entreat Christ, that all who praise you with faith may be delivered from misfortunes.
O ye faithful, forming a chorus, let us all offer hymnody to all the divinely voiced prophets, having been made steadfast by their words, that by their supplications we may be justified.
O ye prophets, ye all manifestly became noetic vessels of divine fragrance for the Spirit, guiding all the nations to understanding, and exalting Christ supremely forever.
O Virgin, thou gavest birth to the unoriginate Effulgence of the Father, Who assumed the flesh; wherefore, we unceasingly cry to thee: Rejoice!, and supremely exalt thee, O pure. one, forever.
Canticle Nine
Irmos: Rejoice, O Isaiah! The Virgin hath conceived in her womb and borne a Son, Immanuel, both God and man. Orient is His name; and, magnifying Him, we call the Virgin blessed.
Come ye, and with oneness of mind let us now praise all the most honored prophets of God, the performers of supernatural miracles, the honored scions and chosen offspring of Jacob, for they proclaimed Christ.
O heralds and proclaimers of universal joy, who were manifestly treasuries of knowledge: ye were radiant, divine and pure mouths of wisdom most true, most honored tongues of the Holy Spirit.
As all-wise prophets who behold God the Creator of all as mighty and are illumined by the light which doth emanate from Him: from misfortunes save those who piously honor your memory with faith.
Thou wast the mediatress of salvation for men, O pure one, having given birth in the flesh to the Lord and Creator Who for thy sake, O Virgin, bestoweth cleansing upon all who magnify thee.
Stichera of the Prophets
TONE ONE
to the special melody, O all-praised martyrs…
O all-glorious prophets, ye denounced kings and opposed audacious men, preaching the one God in Trinity, and zealously driving the falsehood of polytheism from the land. And now pray ye, that He grant our souls peace and great mercy.
O all-glorious prophets, having wandered piously in the deserts and mountains, afflicted by hunger and thirst, as favorites of God ye have your dwelling with Christ in the heavens. And now pray ye, that He grant our souls peace and great mercy.
O all-praised prophets, enduring being sawn asunder and stoned, and being slain by the beheading, for piety’s sake ye became radiant through sufferings. And now pray ye, that He grant our souls peace and great mercy.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Theotokion
Truly wondrous past understanding is the magnitude of thy birthgiving, O Bride of God, which all the prophets proclaimed: the most glorious conception and the ineffable and incomprehensible nativity, whereby the world hath been saved, O most hymned one.